Test: Cervical Palpation - Joints

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Background/Purpose

Reliability of joint palpation has been questioned in the literature. There have been studies done to evaluate both the inter and intra-rater reliability as well as the specificity and reliability of the procedure. Joint motion palpation is a common evaluation procedure for manual therapists. It is often used to determine if there is abnormal motion. Stiffness is often used as a determinate for a mobilization intervention.

Procedure

Clinician provides posterior-to-anterior glides followed by passive physiological intervertebral movements of flexion, extension, side-bending and rotation. Joint dysfunction is diagnosed if the clinician concludes that the joint demonstrates an abnormal end feel and abnormal quality of resistance to motion and the is reproduction of pain.
Performed: Bilaterally

Dialog

Palpation of the cervical spine joints

Criteria

• Pain free
• Good inter-segmental motion
• No swelling of joint capsules

Measurement

LOINC Code

0

Scale/Grading

Pass/Fail